Taymor's Seasonal Reviews Fall 2015 - Episode 3

Hey all, Welcome to my episode 3 reviews for Fall 2015! (Thinly veiled Japanese propaganda campaign.) As I said last time, episode 3 is my cutoff point for dropping shows, so there might be a few that don't make it into this, or future, review sets.

I get all of my info about the shows from Anilist. I'll try to use both the English and romaji names in all my titles, where they're available. I can also use the Japanese names if anyone wants them for some reason. Also, if I appear to have the power to see the future and write the name of a character who is yet to be named in the show, it’s because I read the character sections of some of the show’s websites. (Or rarely, have already seen the newest episode and have forgotten when I met a character.)

Before I start, I'd just like to say that I often enjoy a lot of shows that others really hate, and I haven't read any of the source material or other reviews for any of these shows, so if you see any unpopular opinions, that's just me being a wierdo.

CAUTION: even in the non-spoiler sections, I will be expecting that the reader has either watched the previous episode, or doesn't care about spoilers.

Spoiler

Oh boy, I really liked this episode! It was mostly about meeting characters, we learn more about Lapis, and we're finally actually introduced to other qt girl all in the first minute. I think she might be best girl in this show, she's absolutely adorable. Not a whole lot else really happens in the episode, except a bit of lead up stuff, and some filling out of new grill's character throughout the episode. It was good though, I'm a sucker for girls with no chest and a fang. There was just a little bit of action in this episode, and it was more about showing that new grill is a nice person.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Basically it's as I said above, not a whole lot happened here. Mari is the new grill, she's a witch, and apparently a really strong one, who killed people during the war. The school administration banked some of her memory, but she still seems to have spotty recolections. They think her friends might come for her, so they put her with the small fry platoon, telling them its under a new trial program to integrate willing witches into the school. They seem to be really just using the platoon to destroy any of the powerful witches who would come for Mari. Did I tell you Mari is adorable? Like, she's pretty much perfect. Mari Fanclub photo's of the week. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari. Mari.

Spoiler

This show is like, beyond dark. Once again, they managed to make this episode even darker than the last. I don't even know how it's possible to be darker than last episode, but damn, it was. There was more best grill, which was pretty pleasing. She was actually more of a main role in this episode. We saw her in a bit of a different light in this episode, and it was real deep. I noticed a scene with a bit of off animation, a character sort of fast walks towards the viewer on an angle, and the movement was kind of jarring. Now, I know that's an extremely difficult thing to animate, being an odd angle with movement that has to sync up perfectly, but when most studios come across this, they typically change the scene a bit to avoid it. This is the proper response. It seems that the audio problems that plagued the first episode are gone. I didn't mention it in the last episode review because I wanted to be sure it wasn't a fluke. This episode didn't have any odd sounds, or anything that didn't really fit the scene. Most of the episode actually goes without music, which I actually kind of liked, gave a neat feel to it all. When there was music though, I think it fit pretty well, a big improvement.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Yeah, so as I said this is a really dark episode. I don't know if they'll be able to actually keep it up, but I really hope they do. We start off with a walk through some caves up a mountain after MC is convinced with watermelon to go for the trip. I guess that's gonna be his thing, always baitable with promise of food. They find a body at the top. MC calls the police, and Sakuroko figures out its a female, and she's old. She also gets scolded by the police I guess. After that, best grill goes for lunch with MC, and she tells him it was her grandmother, who went missing last fall. All three of them go to best grill's house, where she breaks down and asks Sakuroko to bring her to the place her grandmother died. She goes, they learn that her grandmother went there to see the scene her husband had painted before he got dymentia. Wew lads, way too deep and dark for me. Spoopy pictures. I don't know how I feel about a shaggy-esque character in this show. Body. Also what seems to be a slight proportion error, the body is much taller than the characters. the bone smuggler is apprehended. I wanna go to the cafe with her :c sad grill. Happy grill.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight / Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan

Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, School

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

I can't really decide if I like little sis, or big red better. I mean normally little sister would be the obvious choice, having no chest, being a general qt, and being a little sister. But big red is a really well done tsundere in my opinion, and little sis' character is kind of annoying. I also really like Alice. There was an awesome action scene in this episode. MC showed off more of his powers, Little sis proved she's not purely about firepower, and Alice showed that he's got a really cool device. We also saw someone new who looks like he'll be something of an antagonist in the next few episodes. In the release that I got of this (HS 720p original) the audio was terrible. I'm pretty sure that's just for this release though, nyaa comments at the time only mentioned it on the 720p. So if you haven't yet gotten this, and you use HS, steer away from the 720p release, at least until the release a fix (if they do, I feel like this isn't a big show for them.) There was also some stuff about what I guess is an upcoming school tournament, that I'm sure was talked about in earlier episodes, but I completely whiffed on. Just MC and Stella learning about their first matches. Pretty cool episode overall, leaves me wondering why MC is considered terrible even when people know how he actually fights.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

So yeah, MC, stella, Lil Sis, and Alice go to the mall. It seemed like it might be an episode just about that. I was wrong. The mall gets taken over by a criminal group with a magic user as its leader. Stella and little sis are part of the hostages, and MC and Alice are on the balcony above, unnoticed. Stella gets right wrecked when she tries to fight the leader, not realising what his device was until too late. Alice holds back MC until little sis puts up a barrier around the hostages, so they aren't murdered in the crossfire. Then MC lets loose, and uses a super cool power where he can manage brain functions to give certain things more power by losing something like colour vision, which he didn't need in the fight. He beats the dude with sheer speed, cutting off his device wielding hand. Turns out a criminal was hiding among the hostages, she puts a gun to one's head. Light bolts come out and murder her. The user turns out to be one of MCs old rivals or something, and it turns out he's MCs first round fight. Neat diagrams. Big red is red. Alice is a cool dude. Baddies. Big red getting rekt. Little sis showing off her defensive abilities. Welcome to bullet hell. Enjoy your stay. I think this is a really cool power. Just reallocates resources. Cool sword stuff too. He's kind of a butt.

Heavy Object

Genres: Action, Mecha, Sci-Fi

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Pretty neat episode this time. I wasn't sure this would escape the wrath of the third episode drop policy, but this was a really good one. We got to see the climax of the little plot set up at the last minute of the last episode. They broke a rule again, which is pretty lame, buuut I guess they'd have a tough time continuing the plot without it. Pretty cool action stuff in this one, plenty of explosions to. I'm pretty happy this one didn't include any object fighting, that's boring. That's actually the reason this was on the block, I don't think the mech fights are interesting at all. This is one story where its just really frustrating that the MC and his obvious love interest don't just come out with it. I don't know if its because MC is a bit daft, but in a show that shouldn't really focus much on the romance bits, its better when they just get it over with.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Well, this episode was about destroying the blue object. MC figures out that he can do this by rendering the object motionless, by blowing up one of the turbines in its legs, and allowing the self-destruct to do its job. I don't know how this large of an oversight was made in a nuke proof robot, but I guess ti worked. While working on that, all three of them get captured, but since the bad guy took too long to kill MC, MC blew up the object. Wew. Then the large woman comes back and saves the day by killing the main baddy right before he kills MC. Since the enemy army didn't have any real equipment other than the object, the good guys rekt them with tanks and planes. Pictures of things. Breakin' da law, breakin' da law. deep stuff man. How did noone think to be ready for this? these were unkillable by nuke. Wtf. She's pretty badass. qt3.14159265359

Spoiler

This show's really going full harem style, we're getting all the regular characters now. We finally get to meet the loli, I've been waiting for that. She's kind of unique. We also meet the girl with the sword. There was an amazing scene in this episode. Actually its pretty long to just call it a scene, anyways it was amazing. Its also the first time I realized a different style of art and animation in some bits. I don't think they've done it before. Its really adorable and I love it. It might be a large reason as to why this is looking like a really good show so far. I hope it keeps up in future episodes. This is weird, I actually like all of the girls in this show, that's new for a harem. Usually I really only like one, maybe two, but they're all really cute in this one.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Rightio, well, this episode was mostly about meeting new grills. The first one was the loli. She's really cute, and MC first saw her writing math on a statue. Apparently she strips while she writes, so obviously MC would've looked like a pervert if he hadn't picked her up in the nude and brought her to his bed. She eats some ramen which is apparently really rare for her, then MC brings her home. Next we meet sword lady, who's pretty cute, and has a weird fight with MC. I guess he won, because everyone ended up naked, including her. For some reason she now thinks she has to serve him. The episode ends with those two, MC, and orange in MC's room taking selfies. Pie charts. (I lied) Yeah, totally not a pervert. beautiful. That right there is the best style of swordsmanship. loli hugs. I love this style. Too cute. Totally not lewd in any way.

Seraph of the End: Battle in Nagoya (Season 2)

Genres: Drame, Shounen, Supernatural, Vampire

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Another cool episode. I really like this show, they get it right with the mix of action, romance stuff, and everything else. The production value is immense, I mean look at those backgrounds, they're gorgeous. Its one of those stories where I like both sides of the fight, and those always turn out to be my favourites. This episode prepped a bit more for the big war that's probably gonna happen pretty soon. I love it when a show can keep me engaged even in the prep episodes. There was a bit of an advance on the romance front, always welcome in this series. There was also some revealing of how the weapons are really made, and what's going on behind the curtains of the human war machine. It's pretty dark. Decisions are made on the questions left in the last episode. The sound is stellar in this show. This episode was a great example. There was plenty of little things happening, and the SFX really shined through.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Yeah, so this was mostly set up stuff, but it was still pretty interesting. They push the family thing like its a racing film though. We start off in a building where the qts are cooking, and failing. Pink-man shows them up big time with his sick omelet skills. They discuss Yu's monster thing, and Yu decide's he'll side with Guren. Meanwhile, Guren is talking to the head honcho about a new mission to kill vampires. MC sort of kind of half confesses to purple, and I guess she accepts it. It was a weird conversation, and they don't really specify the confession of love bit. We see a girl in a machine at the end of the episode, I assume she's a vampire being turned into a weapon, or she's a human being experimented on. The prettiest of pictures. qts A man with a certain set of skills. Guren. tfw no qt demon gf ;-; cute as possible. L-lewd~ The pink device.

Star Mu

Genres: Music, School, Shoujo, Slice of Life

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Oh right, I'm watching a show about boys who love boys. This one isn't even veiled, like, the beginning of this episode is literally blonde guy cooking for MC. I'm liking it, but the red haired dude is a bit of an ass. He's an idol though, so its alright. These random musical bits are wonderful. I think it would've been cooler if they integrated all the songs into the show though. As it is, they just sort of cut in randomly in semi-appropriate scenes. Its alright though, cause they're still really neato. They did fit one song in really well this episode actually. This was an episode about the groups problems, and fixing some of them. I think it was a nice episode, there's a pretty funny bit about MC's traumas.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

Yeah, so as I said, this was all about the group's relationships. Mostly Red and MC. They're not exactly friendly at the beginning, Red thinks that MC should quit because he isn't good at music stuff. MC ends up confronting him, and asking to be friends. When Red says no, MC stops him from going in his door. Red's cat jumps out, and Red goes searching. MC also goes, but separately. They look around for a long time, Red sings a bit about it. Eventually Red finds the cat, near the dorms. He brings it in, purple hair dude tells him the others are looking, to Red's surprise. He goes and finds them, and they become buddies. Red teaches MC how he dances. Totally straight pictures. I want a qt bf to pull my face ;-; Red a butthead. Tension is real. Those clothes are really pretty. Kitty~ I agree with Red. Cute.

The Testament of Sister New Devil Burst

Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Transition episode to the max. The first half of this was about ending what happened last time, and the other half was about the next adventure. They put a healthy amount of bath room fan-service between the two just to set the mood, I guess. There's a bit that's kind of unexplained here though. Basara does some weird stuff to end the fight from last episode, and I guess it happened because he was really stressed or something. Why didn't that same thing happen at the end of last season? I think he was probably more stressed then, more people were in immediate danger. I really think the ecchi bits in this show go too far, like its becoming a major part of every episode. I think it might be just creative filler from the studio when the story of the episode just isn't long enough. But hey, the Blu-Rays will be straight up hentai.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

So I guess lady teacher is actually a god as well, but she'd a good god, who resigned from heaven to get a human appearance and protect Basara. She snares up Basara who's gone insane and grown a new arm, then she destroys the god that was harrasing Basara. I guess she's like, a really strong god, and even though she gave up her powers, she can use them for a single cause, and her cause is protecting Basara. The other god seems terrified of her, and with good reason I guess, he got right destroyed in no time flat. After that, there's a bathtime ecchi scene, and succubus' sister shows up to summon them all to the demon realm. They decide to go. Fan favourite photos. crazy Basara. How2Godmode Best character in show. How did the girl who walked in on this not even react a little? Spoopy portal.

The Asterisk War / Gakusen Toshi Asterisk

Genres: Action, Ecchi, Fantasy, School, Sci-Fi, Shounen

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Man, class prez really knows how to take control of the situation. She goes like, full man hunter mode for Ayato right out the gates. This really does have the same plot as Chivalry, it just goes about it a slightly different way. I even got confused and mixed up the events of the second episodes while watching these ones. I think Julis is the cuter female lead though. She's got less of the tsun, more of the dere. That's a better mix to me. She's actually pretty forward about it, even if she doesn't mean to be. This show probably has higher production value than Chivalry, so I'm guessing that's a big part of why it seems to be more popular. I like both though. This episode was mostly about dealing with threats to Julis by the hooded guys from last time. I thought the weapons they used last time would pretty much give it away, but I guess its possible there's another huge guy with a big war axe. There was a bit of action, and it was pretty cool, if a bit on the short side. I think MC should've gone a little more ham though, he kinda left it all to Julis. There was a pretty neat scene near the end too.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

We start out with Ayato jumping into the class prez's room, where she invited him. She's walking around in an extremely revealing housecoat thing. She tells him to protect Julis, which he's good with doing. Then she throws herself at him, but he runs away. Julis is giving Ayato a tour of the town, and they go to WcDonalds. There they see the big due who doesn't like Julis, and Ayato breaks up the argument. Then they get ambushed, but they beat the guys, and then they chase the masked guys into the forest nearby. Ayato almost gets shot, and rips his clothes. Julis has him come to her house and she fixes them. Then Julis gets a note, and is reading it in class, she leaves quickly. Class prez tells Ayato he should probably follow her, and gives him his Ogre Lux. Hawt pics. Wew lads, wew. Julis is really cute in her street clothes. Julis a bulli. This was a really cute scene. I really like these jumping off things scenes. Chivalry also had one this week.

Owarimonogatari

Genres: Mystery, Supernatural

Spoiler-free review

Spoiler

Welcome back to Monogatari Fan-boy corner, this week, we'll atlk about how great Monogatari is, again. I mean the little intro bit literally referenced Jams Bond, how can a show be better than this? This episode starts talking about young Arararararagi's interaction with the crazy math girl. I feel like there's some sort of big mystery in this chapter that will last the whole thing, and none of it'll really make sense until the end. I don't know how the long sleeved girl is really important, other than to pry information out of Araragi. She doesn't seem to actually have anything to do with the plot. We learned a bunch of stuff, though there's still a few things they haven't been able to answer about Oikura yet. I'm liking the mystery around what Oikura is about, and why she's so mad. I'm pretty excited to see where this is going.

Spoilers and screenshots

Spoiler

so essentially the whole episode was in the ruined spoopy house. Araragi talks about how he used to some here and meet with Oikura and talk about math problems. OK, so Oikura was the real first love interest in Monogatari. Huh, that took a long time to find out. This went on until she didn't show one day. He stopped going, naturally. They talk about what that might mean, and the episode pretty well ends there. They end up about to go into the classroom to see Oikura again when the credits roll. Pictures of ghosts. I loved this. I like these word screens SHAFT uses for Monogatari. Oiukura a qt Math fairy/zombie a qt This was a cool way to do this scene. The sleeves are kind of mysterious. I like it. Spoopy.

Quote:I am the bone of my keyboard Critique is my body, and spoilers are my blood I have created over a thousand words Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life Have withstood pain to create many screenshots Yet, those hands will never hold anything So as I pray, unlimited review works.

There you go, dropped a couple things. If you guys really want to see anything I've dropped reviewed, lemme know and I can pick it back up. Not Dance with Devils though, never. I may change the review schedule to every three episodes, cause I'm really picking at straws for stuff to talk about each episode, especially with some of the less action based shows. Please let me know what you think of that. I don't mind doing them each week, I like it actually, but I don't think single episode reviews are great for the quality of the reviews. Just not really enough to talk about without any spoilage.

Please let me know what you think. I really enjoy doing this, and if you guys like it I’d love to keep writing these. Just as a reminder, please keep spoilers in spoiler tags, especially in the case of the season 2 shows. Also, if I made any spelling or grammar errors that I didn’t catch, don’t be afraid to let me know, I’ll love you for saving me the embarrassment.